NA School Board Elections: Who Do You Support?

Their yard signs are everywhere in the North Allegheny area.

Seven candidates are seeking four seats on the North Allegheny School Board. The election comes just one day before the school board is expected to vote on a very contentious issue, the proposed closing of Peebles Elementary School. 

Whether the election becomes a referendum on the Peebles closing remains to be seen, but some of the candidates have staked their position.

Incumbent Ralph J. Pagone, and potential newcomers Tara Fisher, and Scott Russell are backed by the group Save NA Schools, which has been fighting a very public battle against the closing of any North Allegheny Elementary School.

The group's argument: closing any elementary school will lead to larger class sizes.

Fisher and Russell say they are running for full, four-year terms that will extend far beyond the Peebles issue and say they bring to the table financial and IT skills that can move the district forward.

Incumbent Daniel E. Hubert  is also seeking re-election. In his campaign profile provided to North Allegheny Patch, he does not mention the proposed closing of Peebles, but says his number one priority when casting a vote is to always consider "what's best for the students."

North Allegheny Patch has reached out to incumbent Thomas C. Schwartzmier to ask why he is running for re-election, but so far, no response.

Rounding out the field are challengers Ash Marwah, a frequent critic of spending increases by the current board and administration, and Gary Wenig , who also questions the spending priorities of the current board and administration.

Election day is a week from tomorrow.

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